For decades, tiles were practically the only options available when it came to cladding your kitchen. Now however, with the 21st century well under way, the development of new technologies and the discoveries of new synthetic materials, along with a new-found appreciation of natural products and more traditional techniques, have led to a greater choice range. This means you can now select the best cladding for your kitchen according to your needs, your personal style and your budget, and from an almost unlimited range of options. Here, we discuss the best of those options for designing your dream kitchen.

1- Quartz Silestone’s surfaces

Composed of 94% of quartz, are the ideal choice for modern kitchens, whether the surfaces are used for countertops or modern kitchen backsplashes, or, of course, for beautiful and highly durable cladding. You can use this type of material to create a seamless effect thanks to the different slab sizes available.

The 306 cm x 140 cm format and the 325 cm x 159 cm Jumbo format are both ideal to keep the number of joints to a minimum, the material is also available in several sizes for flooring: 30 cm x 30 cm, 40 cm x 40 cm, 60 cm x 30 cm, 60 cm x 40 cm and 60 cm x 60 cm, of 1.2 cm, 2 cm and 3 cm thick. The wide range of colors offered by Silestone will help you create a kitchen that’s unique and full of style and personality. You can use whites, greys, browns, beiges and blacks to design your dream kitchen and you’ll even find surfaces in red, green and dark crimson.

2- Ceramic

Ceramic tiles remain one of the most commonly used materials for cladding kitchen walls. Nowadays however, new technologies have revolutionized the designs of this type of tile to offer fashionable options in a modern style. Among the most common ceramic tiles currently offered, are hydraulic or encaustic cement tiles. These are used to clad kitchen walls and are inspired by original patterns from the early 20th century.

3- Wallpaper

Wallpaper cladding has also become a popular choice for kitchens. This is especially the case with vinyl wallpaper, which can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth. This option is ideal to decorate the walls of your office space with different designs and patterns that are both decorative and stylish.

4- Exposed brick

Exposed brick is a new type of cladding that will add character to your kitchen. In either its original reddish colour, or painted in white or grey tones, this design option has lots of personality. It will add a touch of style to your kitchen, but of course, it should only be used in areas that aren’t overly exposed to either water or heat.

5- Ultra-compact

One of the newest and most revolutionary options available are Dekton’s ultra-compact surfaces, perfect to create cladding with amazing coatings and textures. This state-of-the-art material boasts some unique features, such as its superior resistance to scratches, stains, abrasion, cold and heat, and toughness that means it can even be used for flooring to create a uniform look for your kitchen. The latest models of Dekton ultra-compact cladding include Radium, Nilium and Orix from the on-trend Industrial Collection, which has been specially created for designing modern- and industrial-style kitchens.

6- Porcelain Stoneware

This is a type of stoneware tile that’s characterised by its toughness and strength. It can be used for both cladding and flooring, and for either interior or exterior spaces. Porcelain stoneware is currently available in a range of textures, colors and coatings, which can even imitate natural materials, such as wood, slate, stone, etc.; while tiles with 3-dimensional designs will add depth and character to your kitchen. Porcelain stoneware tiles are available in different sizes, from 10 cm x 10 cm to large-size formats of 90 cm x 150 cm and less than 8mm thick.

7- Marble

This natural material will bring an elegant, sophisticated look to your kitchen. You can combine this trendy option with wooden elements to strip any coldness from a space. If you prefer, you can choose a Dekton ultra-compact cladding from the Natural Collection, which imitates the finish and veining of marble. It will provide all the style of natural marble combined with all the benefits this type of surface has to offer.

8- Subway tiles

This type of tile, with its characteristic rectangular and bevelled shape, is a great option for cladding eclectic or Nordic-style kitchens. Although the original design has a glossy finish, you can also go for a matte subway tile.

9- Microcement

With this trendy type of cladding and flooring, you’ll only need a 2-mm-thick layer to enjoy a very personal and modern kitchen. You can choose from the available colors to design a customized space based on your own tastes and favorite styles.